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Thursday, 24 October 2013

By Innocent Anaba
The Nigerian Government, Tuesday, told the United Nations Human
Rights Council, that the Boko Haram insurgents in some parts of the
country are impact of externally-induced internal security challenges.

Nigeria, also said that it will not bow to international pressure to
allow same sex-marriage in the country, arguing that same sex marriage
is against its cultural and traditional values.
It also justified the execution of death row inmates in the country, contending that same was in accordance with its laws.
Defending Nigeria’s human rights record at the on-going 17th session
of the Universal Peer Review, UPR mechanism of the UN Human Rights
Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Mr Mohammed Adoke, SAN, the country’s
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, said
“Nigeria is experiencing the impact of externally-induced internal
security challenges, manifesting in the activities of militant
insurgents and organised crime groups which has led to the violation of
the human rights of many Nigerians.
To address the problem, the government has adopted constitutional
measures which include the “declaration of a state of emergency” in the
states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe of the Northeast Nigeria, where the
insurgents have their base. As a result, a Joint Task Force and a
Special Task Force have been deployed with the required legislative
authorization to utilize rightsbased “Rules of Engagement” and
“Operational Plans” in combating the insurgency.
“However, the Nigerian Government has kept open communication
channels through the activities of a Presidential Committee on Security
Challenges towards working out a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Government has already proscribed Boko Haram as well as the
Jamāʿatu Anṣāril Muslimīna fī Bilādis Sūdān and stipulated a 20-year
jail term for anybody who aids or sponsors them in any manner
whatsoever. The Government has also put in place an amnesty programme to
dissuade terrorists and other extremists from violence.

“The Nigerian Government has taken other measures to improve
security, including enactment of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 and
its subsequent amendment in 2013 to broaden the scope of its
application; development of a Counter Terrorism Strategy and creation of
crisis management centre in the office of the National Security
Adviser; coordination of enhanced capacity building for all security and
intelligence outfits at both the strategic and tactical levels; the
National Security Adviser coordinates efforts among the security and
intelligence agencies to ensure protection of the human rights of all
persons in counter terrorism operations.
Human rights standards have been incorporated in the training
curricula of all operatives and coordination of a security awareness
programme for ministers and other functionaries of government.”
On same sex-marriage, he said, “Nigeria does not accept
recommendation of some country on the matter, because same-sex marriage
is against its national values. Recent polling data suggests that 92
percent of Nigerians support the Anti Same-Sex Marriage Bill passed by
the Senate.
“The Marriage Act defines marriage as a relationship between a man
and a woman. Christianity and Islam, which are the major religions in
Nigeria, also recognize marriage as relationship between a man and
woman.
Same-sex marriage is not in the culture of Nigerians. Sexual and
gender minorities are not visible in Nigeria and there is no officially
registered association of gays and lesbians. In writing this report, a
consultation and validation process was held with various stakeholders
where the issue of same-sex marriage was brought up, and the general
view of the participants was that same-sex marriage was not a human
rights issue in Nigeria.”

On death row inmates execution, he said “the right of man to life is
the most fundamental human right. Government uses the death penalty as a
deterrent to protect human life. Section 33 (1) of Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 guarantees the right to life. It
provides ‘’ Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be
deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of
a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found
guilty in Nigeria.’’
“The Penal code and Criminal code prescribe death sentence for
anybody who commits culpable homicide punishable with death and murder
respectively. Death penalty is a valid part of Nigerian law.
In Nigeria today, offences that are punishable by death include
murder, treason, directing or presiding at an unlawful trial by ordeal
from which death results, and armed robbery.”